Automatic shut-off device for valves



Nov. 10, 1931. c. MARKEL I AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF DEVICE FOR VALVES Filed Oct. 22, 1929 INVENTOR. C/auoe Mare/ BY,

A TTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 10, 1931 UNITED STATES PATET OFFI CLAUDE MARKEL, on NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC SHUT-OFF DEVICE FOR vALvns Application filed i0 ct obe1' 22, 1929.] Serial No. 401,438.

This invention is an automatic shutoff device adapted to cooperate with valves such asare customarilyemployed in controlling flow of gas or other fluid,'and the object of the invention, generally speaking, is to'provide apparatus which in the event of inad- 'vertent or accidental cessation of the flame ber adapted to be so associated with the valve stem that said member may be actuated manually to open the valve and permit theflow of gas or other fluid therethrough. With this member is associated a shutofi' element which, when the valve is opened, is movedby said member into a position to be engaged by a thermostatically operable detentand through such movement toenergize thespring which tends at all times to move the shutoff element into a position to shut off the valve.

The thermostatic detentis so associated with the shutofi' element that when the valve is moved into open position, and the thermostatic element subjected to a predetermined rise in temperature as by lighting the burner of the gas stove with which the device is associated, the detent will be thermostatically moved into engagement with the shutoff element and thus serve to hold such element in retracted position with the valve openso long as the thermostatic detent remains under the influence or heat from the burner. The parts are so constituted, however, that when the heat from the burner falls below a predetermined minimum, as when the burner blows out, the thermostatic detent will be automatically retracted to release the shutofi element and permit the spring to act thereon'forthe purpose of shutting off the valve in an enpresent invention in other desired manner;

vice of this invention is adapted for use in variousenvironments. It embodies numerous novel features of construction and is of unusual simplicity, the working parts being so constituted that they will not be apt to get out of order or fail to function.

Features ofthe invention other than those specified will be apparent from thefollowing detailed description when read in conjunction withthe accompanying drawings and from the appended claim.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown one-practical embodiment of the invention but theconstruction therein shown 7 is to be understood as illustrative only and not as defining the limits of the invention. Figure 1 shows the device embodying the section in the plane of the line 11 of Figure 2. Figure 2is a section on the line"22 of V Figure 1 showing center post in elevation and the key and valve in dot and dash lines.

Referring" to the drawings, 1 designates the casing of the device. he made of any appropriate shape or'size andmay be formed as a casting or in any As shown, however, It is substantially cylindrical'and extending co-axially therethrough is a valve'post 2 This post is mounted to rotate in ierforations in the top and bottoinof the casing which form bearine's for the post. The bot tom or lower end of the post is provided with a polygonal'pocket 3 adaptedto fit over correspondingly shaped stem 4 of the valve 5 while the upper end of the post is suitably formed, as by a threaded extension 6, to receive a key or handle 7 by which the post may be operated I for the purpose of operating valve stem. I 1 p Mounted to'rotate freely within the casing, co-axially of the post 2, is a disk 8 which constitutes the shutoff element of the I device. This disk is freely rotatable about the post 2 and is provided. atone pointin its periphery with single notch 9 with wh ch the detent is in the form of a dog mounted to. slide lon gitudinally of parallel guides l1 formed in This casing may,

tirely automatic manner. As stated, the de ,10 is adaptedto cooperatef The detent 10 I the casing so that said detent can move readily into and out of engagement with the notch 9. The detent 10 is, moreover, connected by a rod 12 to any suitable thermostatic mechanism of any conventional form erected in proximity with the burner, pilot light or other source of flame for the continuance of which fluid is fed through a pipe which the valve 5 controls, and the relation of the parts is such that heat derived from the flame will cause the detent to be advanced into the notch 9 whereas an extinguishment of the flame will bring about the lowering of temperature to cause the detent to be retracted from the notch. The detent 10 is shown as controlled by a conventional gas expansion thermostat embodying a diaphragm element 12a and a gas containing bulb 12b.

Extending radially from the post2 is an operating arm 1& shown in Figure 2 as in the form of a rod threaded through a spacing collar 15 and extending through a perforation cross-axially of the post 2 so as to mount the arm 14 rigid with respect to the post and movable therewith. On the disk 8 is positioned an upstanding pin 16 which projects into the horizontal plane of the arm 1 1. The spring 17 is anchored at one end to the casing as at 18 and at its other end to the dsk 8 as at. 19 and serves to normally impel the disk in a counterclockwise direction whereby the pin 16 will force the arm 1% into the dotted line position of Figure 1 wherein it will engage with a stop 20 on the casing. This dotted line position corresponds to the shutofi position of the valve 5 and when the parts are in this position, fluid is precluded from passing through the valve. It will of course be understood that the casing is suitably secured by a bracket 1a or otherwise against movement with respect to the valve. Thus, when it is desired to turn on the valve the handle 7 is grasped and moved in a clockwise. direction through substantially ninety degrees to fully open the valve. As the handle is thus turned the o aerating arm 1a is moved from the dotted line position of F igure 1 into the full line position and during suchmovement, impels the pin 16 into the full line position of this figure, thus causing the rotation of the shutoil disk into a positionwherein the notch 9 will be aligned with the detent 10. Fluid now passes through the valve 5 and may be ignited manually, by a ilot light, or in any other appropriate way, but the handle 7 is manually held until the flame can act upon the thermostatic actua ing mechanism to advancethe detent 10 into the notch 9. Assoon as this has been accomplished, and in practice this requires but a few seconds, thehandle may be retracted to a greater or lesser extent as the operatormay desire to control the heat of theflame at the burner. Thus, the operator may turn back "j, the handle to partially close the valve and If, however, through accident or otherwise,

theheat which ismaintaining the detent in position fails, as by blowing out of the burner, the detent will automatically be retracted, and as soon as it is withdrawn from the notch, the spring 17 will immediately act to rotate the disk v8 in a counterclockwise direction. In so doing, the pin 16 will engage with the opera-ting arm 14 and force the arm into the dotted line position of Figure 1,. thereby shutting oil the valve. The. valve will remain in shut off condition until itis manually turned on and the fluid rte-ignited, as hereinbefore described. I

Particular attention is calledto the marked simplicity of the device of this invention. It embodies a minimum number of opera-ting parts so constituted that they are not apt to get .out of order or fail :to operate at anytime.

The arrangement is economical to manufacture, and. can be, readily attached to gas .L:

ranges, water heaters, and similar constructions with which it is adapted for use.

The foregoing detailed description sets forth the invention in itspreferred practical form, but the invention is to be understood as fully commensurate with the appended claim... V r

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is;

A. shut ofl' attachment for conventional gas valves comprising. a casing, a post rotatably mounted on the casing, said post having a socket .at one end and a complemen tary projection at the other end, a spring tending to. impel rotation of the post in one direction, a detent to lock the post in predetermined position with the spring under tension, thermostatic means to control said detent, means, for detach ably and rigidlysuipporting the casing 1n uxtapos1t1 on with a conventional valve to be controlled, with the V socket. at one, end of the post interfitting with theend of the valve stem from which the bandle has'been' removed, and a handle secured to the projection at the otherend of the post. .In testimony whereof I have signed the foregoing specification.

CLAUDE MARKELY' 

